American Studies

Grading and Assessments

The grading scale for American Studies is as follows:

68- 69.9%=C- 78- 79.9=B- 88- 89.9%=A-

70- 70.9%=C 80- 85.9=B 90- 100%=A

76- 77.9%=C+ 86- 87.9=B+

Two criteria to pass:

Achieve a 68% overall in the class.

Meet standard (68%) on all unit assessments.

There is no D for this class. In order to pass, one must earn at least a 68%, or C-. Any score below 68% will not receive credit.

The majority of work for American Studies revolves around the unit assessments. These major projects tie together understandings between history and literature. In order to pass this class, standard (68%) must be met on ALL unit assessments.

The grades and credit for both history and English might not be the same because the history grade consists of history classroom work plus the unit assessments. The English grade likewise consists of classroom work plus the same unit assessments.

What about late work and re-dos?

Daily classroom assignments cannot be made up unless one has an excused absence.

Unit assessments must be turned in on time for full credit. The penalty for late work is 10% for one day late, 20% for two days, 30% for three to five days, and 40% for anything later than one week. Even though this might cause the grade to fall below 68%, credit is still given for meeting standard on that unit, as long as it would have met standard (68%) before the late penalty.

If a completed unit assessment does not meet standard (68%), a student has up to two weeks after the date the assessment is returned in order to re-do the assignment to meet standard. The highest score one may receive on a re-do is 68%. (It is highly recommended that one re-does the assignment right away, in case standard is not met the second time.) In order to get a score in the gradebook, one must demonstrate that standard has been met on each unit assessment.

Unit assessments will be graded and returned no more than two weeks past the initial deadline.

Important Notes:

Reasonable effort is expected on all unit assessments. Not doing so would cause work not to be accepted, thereby causing late penalties. A name with some writing on a piece of paper may not be a reasonable effort.

FINAL unit assessments for each semester cannot be turned in late, since it acts as the final for that semester. Although it will have the same point value as the unit assessments, the grading policy for it will be similar to daily assignments.

Plagiarism is forbidden. Depending on the severity of the case, plagiarism will be penalized up to and including receiving a negative score equal to the value of the assignment. Despite this, standard still must be met on that assessment in order to pass the class.

Extra credit opportunities will be minimal.